Life, 1889-03-07 · page 5 of 18
Life — March 7, 1889 — page 5: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Analysis of Life Magazine Page 133 This page contains two satirical pieces. The top section mocks theatrical variety entertainment, depicting a cheaply-constructed "pop-up" theater where performers showcase acts. The accompanying text ridicules Mrs. Ward's organization of a variety show featuring her daughter Catherine, suggesting the venture is amateurish despite grandiose claims about "elevating" the variety stage. The main article, "The Fate of Robert Elsmere," uses the unexpected reappearance of a man supposedly dead in Algeria to satirize dramatic newspaper announcements and theatrical pretension. His friend notes the exaggeration of his transformation, while Elsmere cynically explains he simply works for Mrs. Ward staging theatrical productions to impress society. The cartoons throughout mock upper-class cultural pretensions and amateur theatricality.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
- LIFE: | EY sree pts “WeLL, vez sé Ne NER BEKASE XO YOUNG LADY'S EDDICATION 18 COMPLETE WIDOUT SHE PLAYS A BIT, AND THIN THE OULD MAN IS FOND OF CLASSER- KUL MUSIC, AN’ WHIN HE COMES HOME AFTHER HIS DAY'S WORK HE LOIKES TO TAKE IT AISY AN’ LISTEN TO VICTORIA WHOILE SHE PLAYS AND SINGS. BY THE WAY, HER MUSIC TAYCHER {8 JUST GOIN’ UP TO GIVE HER A LESSON, WON'T YER SHTEP IN?” THE FATE OF ROBERT ELSMERE. TH office-boy handed the dramatic editor one of the regulation blanks for visitors, which had been filled out to read: “Mr. Robert Elsmere, of London, Eng., on show business.” “ Show him up!" exclaimed the trained wit, after he had re- covered from his surprise. And Mr. Elsmere was shown up. “Hello, Bob!" said his old friend. “Glad to see you! But I thought you died out there in Algiers?” “Not much!" replied Mr. Elsmere, very decidedly. “Mrs. Ward made me do the soldier-of-the-legion act just to satisfy her faulty sense of the dramatic proprieties. I'm all right, I tell you! I weigh twenty-six pounds more than when I saw you last. What between my improved appear- ance and the wrong impression that Mrs. Ward gave them, most of my old friends didn't know me when I dropped in on them.” “What are you doing over on this side?” he was asked. “Working the Ward ad. for all it is worth,” replied the gentleman in the striped shirt and the loud trousers. ‘* What is left for any clergyman to do who h.” shed his last shred of orthodoxy? Not die, because that satishcs the dramatic proprieties, but go on the stage and dissatisfy them, like’ rise accumulate the golden dollars. Why, man, I've had the 133 biggest advance notices in the annals of the histrionic art. I can't do the tragic heavies like the Reverend Miln, Mrs. Ward gave it to you straight about my sore throat. But I've got voice enough left for the variety business, and have organized a company that will make Tony Pastor stare. What with my reputa- tion in polite society, I expect to elevate the variety stage even higher than Mrs. Potter has the legitimate.” “How's the family?” Mr. Elsmere was asked at parting. “They're with the show. Catherine's a trifle slow, but she's got a good topical song that's sure to go. Mary, the kid, we're billing as an infant phenomenon, We're training her up to do a swell male turn.” And the rest of the discussion was carried on in secret session at a neighboring café. INISTER (dining with the family): Bobby, | suppose when you grow up to be a man you will want to be an earnest Christian, won't you? F— RAGAN DISSATISFACTION, Father (who has rushed to the spol): WMAT'S THE MATTER? Boy: On, Dab, G-G-GET ME OUT OF THIS! Father (slowly): WALL, IF YOU AIN'T THE HARDEST BOY TO PLEASE I EVER SEE, LasT sUMMER{I COULDN'T KEEP YoU OUT OF THIS CREEK, AND NOW YER CRYIN’ BECAUSE YER IN, comicbooks.com